Monday, December 31, 2012

Some of the bloggers I admire have created what they refer to as their Life List a.k.a. the list of things they want to do and accomplish during their lifetimes (ya know... a bucket list focused on living). I think this is a fantastic idea, as it is not only fun to create, it also, when you see them in writing, gives you drive to reach for those dreams and goals.

So, quite awhile ago, I started my own life list. I've even accomplished a few of the things on the list prior to putting the list in a blog post. So, without further rambling, which you know I tend to do, here's my list so far (I will occasionally add to and cross things off this list)...

1. Visit Yellowstone
2. Revamp my website/blog
3. Win a blog award
4. Run a dog rescue
5. Create a photo book
6. Sign a freelance photography contract
7. Plant a new Butterfly Bush
8. Plant an Azalea tree
9. Create a butterfly garden
10. Photograph a Bald Eagle in the wild
11. Catch a Musky at West Branch Reservoir
12. Create a Butterfly Calendar
13. Create a Dragonfly Calendar
14. Create an Etsy store
15. Learn Photoshop
16. Learn to use textures on my photos
17. Create a digital scrapbook
18. Photograph a bobcat in the wild
19. Photograph a coyote in the wild
20. Have a booth at the Red Barn Craft Show in Kirksville
21. Have a booth at a farmer's market in Missouri
22. Convince Hubs I really should have internet on my phone
23. Create life lists (with photos) of the species I photograph (dragonflies, butterflies, birds, etc.)
24. Learn to be a better cook
25. Learn to can vegetables, etc.
26. Have an herb garden
27. Start creating beaded jewelry again
28. Go to a Martina McBride concert
29. Create some inspirational photo posters
30. Visit Australia
31. Grow flowers from seed for my flower garden
32. Meet Tammy in person
33. Meet Bear in person
34. See a double rainbow
35. Photograph a hummingbird moth
36. Get my Bachelor's Degree
37. Learn to sew
38. Publish a book
39. Visit a butterfly sanctuary
40. Learn to make my own photo frames
41. Learn guitar
42. Go on a road trip with my cousins
43. Learn to use my pressure cooker
44. Work from home full-time
45. Have a magazine article written about me
46. Learn to photograph completely in manual
47. Find an arrowhead
48. Write a book with Dad about Matouk's adventures
49. Learn from Dad how to make a pie
50. Make my husband a pie
51. Design a website (other than for a college course)
52. Go to a book signing of a favorite author
53. Go to an art/photography gallery
54. Have my own photography exhibit
55. Catch a ball at a Cleveland Indians game
56. Have my own line of greeting cards
57. Make Tammy's family a catfish dinner
58. Make Snickerdoodles for Bear
59. Have one of my photographs as a magazine cover
60. Go to Conneaut with Dad
61. Attend a Misty May/Kerri Walsh volleyball match (uhhh this one isn't gonna happen since they retired)
62. Go on a photography meet-up
63. Meet Karen Walrond
64. Photograph a Lavendar field
65. Visit every National Park
66. Go on a cruise
67. See the Aurora Borealis
68. Inspire someone
69. Camp out in the pop-up camper back at my pond
70. Try 50 different cheeses: cheddarAmericanSwissColby JackCottage cheeseMozzarellaCream cheesePimentoJarlsburgCottage cheeseBaby SwissProvaloneParmesanMonterey JackRicottaPepper Jack
71. Learn to play chess
72. Learn HDR photography
73. Ride in a hot air balloon
74. Learn how to make cheese
75. Go on a houseboat vacation (with Jim)
76. Learn Origami
77. Learn to make soap
78. Purchase a professional printer
79. Visit the area in Kentucky where we used to vacation (with Jim)
80. Learn to play piano
81. Learn to make candles
82. Make my own beer
83. Collect & polish rocks for jewelry
84. Purchase 25 creations/works of art from friends' sites/stores
85. Read all books on my bookshelves
86. Go Geocaching
87. Get a small tattoo
88. Learn scrapbooking
89. Learn woodworking
90. Go to the Kentucky Derby
91. Leave 15 notes of gratitude/compliment for someone of service
92. Have some of my photos published as reference material
93. Create a reference library: Butterflies, Insects, Dragonflies/Damselflies, flowers, wildflowers, birds, reptiles, plants, rocks, animal tracks
94. Have a cookout/bonfire at our house
95. Have my own home office/workspace in the loft
96. Have a pool table
97. Have one full bookshelf of reference/how-to/DIY etc.
98. Attend 10 Bon Jovi concerts: 1. Columbus 2. Pittsburgh 3. Cleveland 4. Des Moines 5. Kansas City
99. Meet the girls of Full Bookshelves in person
100. Meet Tammy Lee Bradley in person
101. Meet and hang out with Chuck and Sue
102. Help Jim set up his train set
103. Get my ears re-pierced (they were done crooked when I was young)
104. Ice skate on my backyard pond
105. Join an online book club (with the time to read the books and participate)
106. Take a photography class
107. Attend a Miranda Lambert concert
108. Learn jewelry wire working
109. Get a logo for my Photography
110. Represent Sony with my Photography
111. Start Journaling daily
112. Learn to create mixed media
113. Ride in a Helicopter
114. Own a one-cup coffee maker Thank you to two of the best friends a girl could ever have!
115. Go on a vacation with Jim, my step-daughter, and her husband (and now Calli)
116. Have a baby (This was always on the list, but, for certain reasons, I didn't think it would ever happen. So, I had purposely left it off the list. Well, apparently God had a plan, and I will be making this one come true in November 2013!) CORRECTION - She decided she didn't want to wait and made her grand debut on October 29, 2013.

Wow Misty, what a comprehensive list you have here! I really admire you for putting what's in your head down on paper. :) I have to tell you -- go to Yellowstone as soon as you can. I've been there 3 or 4 times - once is just not enough - and I have a forever love for that place. I hope to return someday, so I guess it would definitely go on my list too!! Many years ago I was a Yellowstone Park Foundation member and I happily made annual donations - I wish I could get back to that financial place where I could do that again, and I never did take one of the classes they offer, which I really wanted to do. Look them up at ypf.org.